TONIGHT will see the final budget for the next financial year approved at what is set to be a lively meeting.

Facing heavy financial pressures, Swindon Council has to find £17 million of savings, which have included leasing out the town’s leisure centres and shutting a number of children’s centres, although council tax is set to be frozen.

However, the council’s Labour group has said there is a pot of money still available and will move an amendment calling for it to be spent on what they see as key issues, such as the development of a plan for the Thamesdown Drive extension.

Each year, the council receives a pot of cash from the Government for each house built, called the New Homes Bonus, and just over £4 million remains.

The Conservatives say the money needs to be spent on something which will bring in a tangible benefit, or cut the revenue budget, but their opponents say important problems are being ignored.

Labour Group leader Jim Grant (Rodbourne Cheney) said:“What this amendment is about is tackling issues that local residents care about.

“With the Design Plan for the Thamesdown Drive Extension Road, what we are saying is that once the Government has given approval for the outline business case for the road, we can then get straight to work in establishing a shovel-ready plan which will persuade the Government to release the necessary money for the road to be built.

“The poor state of the borough’s roads and pavements is another issue residents have had to deal with for too long. Increasing numbers of potholes and roads in disrepair have come at a huge cost to motorists.

“That is why we’re proposing for the council to be on the side of motorists and increase investment in road resurfacing.”

Part of the amendment will look at spending cash on improving grass verges.

However, the Conservatives have dismissed the Thamesdown Road suggestion, saying they have already announced a cheaper option to develop the plan.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) has said plans for spending the New Homes Bonus will be announced in due course and the money should not be spent for the sake of spending it.

He said: “We have said before that the money should not just be spent because it is there. Money is tight so what we have needs to be spent on something which will aid economic growth or cut council spending.

“This is an attempt by Labour to gain easy headlines without any long-term thought and any real plan.”